Lead – Ending Child Marriage
| Location | Lira, Uganda |
| Date Posted | July 2, 2026 |
| Category | Management NGO |
| Job Type | Contract |
| Currency | UGX |
Description
The Organisation
Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.
Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.
For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.
We won’t stop until we are all equal.
Role Purpose
Help shape a world where every girl can decide her own future.
Plan International is looking for a strategic and influential leader to drive our global flagship focused on ending child marriage and advancing adolescent girls’ rights, wellbeing, and agency.
This is a unique global leadership role at the forefront of tackling one of the world’s most critical gender equality challenges. You will define and lead an ambitious, evidence-based approach that addresses the root causes of child marriage – including harmful gender norms, poverty, gender-based violence, and limited access to education, health and economic opportunities.
You’ll work across a global network to align teams, influence partners and donors, and strengthen Plan International’s position as a leader in protecting girls’ futures across both development and humanitarian contexts.
What you’ll do
- Set and drive the global vision, strategy, and ambition for the flagship
- Lead resource mobilisation and build strong donor and partner relationships
- Provide thought leadership and external representation on child marriage and girls’ rights
- Shape compelling global narratives, advocacy, and positioning
- Ensure integrated, girl-centred programming across protection, SRHR, education, GBV prevention, and economic empowerment
- Work across a matrixed organisation to align global, regional, and country teams
- Champion the use of evidence, learning, and innovation to maximise impact
About you
- Deep expertise in child marriage, adolescent girls’ rights, and gender equality
- Strong understanding of the root causes and consequences of child marriage across diverse contexts
- Strong understanding of youth-led approaches, Gender & Inclusion, and how these are embedded in programme design and narratives
- Experience leading or shaping integrated, multi-sector programmes in complex or resource-constrained settings
- Proven ability to translate evidence into strategy, advocacy, and funding opportunities
- Strong track record in external representation, partnership development, and influencing
- Skilled at leading through influence in global, matrixed organisations
- A strategic, collaborative leader who can navigate complexity and drive alignment
Location: Nairobi, Kenya preferred however other locations where Plan International has an office* that can employ on behalf of the Global Hub and you have the pre-existing right to work and live may also be considered.
Type of Role: Permanent - Full-time or maximum fixed term contract as per employing office's standard terms and conditions
Reports to: Matrix management - Director, Programme Impact & Innovations and Regional Director, Middle East, Eastern and Southern Africa
Closing Date: 12th July
*Applicable locations include: Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.
We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.